2017 is here and you want this year to be different… we all do, don’t we?! We say we will remember every moment, every fun thing we do with the kids and funny thing they say, but while your intentions are good, we all know it’s next to impossible to remember it all. One of my resolutions is to take more photos of the kids this year, but not just a few more, 365 more… per kid!
When kids are small, they change so much, so fast and you really see those changes through photos. Sometimes, I don’t notice the little changes in the way they’re growing and changing because I’m with them every day of their lives. To try to capture every little moment, change and memory in 2017, I will be taking a picture a day of my kids! It sounds crazy, right? It’s not! I’ve done it before and while it takes a bit of work, you will never regret doing it, especially having Chatbooks on your team.
Step 1: Decide on how to save the pictures you take daily
Pick one place to store them digitally — make a file on your computer (this will be the hardest part), start an album on your phone (this is easier since we always use our phones to snap a pic), or start an Instagram account and post them there (this is my number one choice). You don’t need to be fancy… take the pictures with your phone and keep it simple, or take them with your camera, but remember, the goal isn’t to have a professional looking picture everyday, but rather to take a photo everyday.
Step 2: Start taking pictures
It will be a transition at the beginning. You will be all excited about it at the beginning of the year, but as time goes on, you may begin to forget. Put a daily reminder in your phone to make sure you don’t miss a day.
Step 3: Include a caption
This step is the reason why I prefer to use Instagram to store my daily photos. The more information you have for each picture, the better. When you post your photos, you can write a caption about what they were doing in the picture or add a funny quote that your child said that day. Help yourself to remember what the picture means to you each day when you’re looking at them a year from now, five years from now or 10 years from now.
Step 4: Get creative, when necessary
Now, you may be asking yourself, what about the days your child is sick? Or what do you do if you are traveling and you aren’t with the kids? If your child isn’t feeling well, get creative and take a picture of their feet and add a caption like “Snuggled under the covers and feeling a bit under the weather.” If you are away or you don’t see your kids some days, get someone else on board to take a picture and send it to you! Share with your family what you are doing and they will be happy to help.
Step 5: Print your pictures
This is where the fun really begins! If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to download the Chatbooks App. Chatbooks is an app that lets you create photo books using your Instagram account or photos from your phone. You are already doing all of the work by taking the pictures each day, so let Chatbooks make it easy to get them printed. Instead of printing loose photos (which you can do through Chatbooks as well), you will get a beautiful 6×6 photo book with your pictures printed in order. Each book contains 60 pictures and once you sign up, they will print these books automatically, so you don’t have to wait until the end of the year to see your pictures come to life!
Use code SAVVYSASSY for your first book free in a series and 10% off custom books and prints!
How to use chatbooks
- Download the app from iTunes.
- Select the Most Popular Photo Book Series, which begins at only $8
- Add your source: You can link your Instagram account, Facebook page or your iPhone favorites. Enter your information and authorize Chatbooks to access your photos and then begin exploring the options.
- Decide whether or not the date and location show up.
- Change the cover photos and remove any photos you don’t want included in the book. They are completely customizable!
- Print a custom book, print your entire Instagram feed or print loose photos.
I am challenging you to take the daily picture challenge by taking a picture a day of your kids. At the end of the year, you will thank me! You can follow along with me as I post daily photos of my kids on our Instagram account, @365daysofjonahandaddi.
Good luck!
